Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Editorial Praises HPV Vaccine Advice for Boys, Young Men

A Los Angeles Times editorial states that while a CDC advisory panel's recent recommendation that boys and young men receive the human papillomavirus vaccineÂ was "the right recommendation," the "reasons for broadening the vaccine's use are much bigger." For several years, CDC has recommended that girls and young women receive the vaccine, which protects against strains of HPV that can cause genital warts and several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. "Just as contraception and family planning should be seen as societal health issues rather than solely 'women's issues,' so should the medical battle against [cervical] cancer," the editorial adds, noting that the "most effective way to provide protection is with the widest possible use of vaccination."